Exhibit 99.2
SHAREHOLDERS' AND RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDERS' AND RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of this 30th day of December, 1999, by and among XxxxXxxx.xxx,
Inc., (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, and the Shareholders listed on
Schedule I and Schedule II hereto.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Shareholders listed on Schedule I hereto (each a
"Preferred Shareholder" and collectively the "Preferred Shareholders") have
agreed to purchase from the Company shares (the "Shares") of Series A Preferred
Stock (as hereinafter defined); and
WHEREAS, the Shareholders listed on Schedule II hereto (each a "Common
Shareholder" collectively the "Common Shareholders" and collectively with the
Preferred Shareholders, the "Shareholders") were, prior to the date hereof,
owners of shares of the Company's Common Stock; and
WHEREAS, the Shareholders and the Company have agreed to enter into an
agreement with respect to (i) the procedures to be followed in connection with
the election of the Company's Board of Directors, (ii) certain restrictions upon
the transfer by each Common Shareholder of shares of Common Stock, (iii) certain
restrictions upon the issuance by the Company of New Securities, and (iv) the
rights to register shares of Common Stock under the Securities Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, and to induce the Preferred
Shareholders to purchase the Shares, and in consideration thereof, it is hereby
covenanted and agreed as follows:
SECTION l
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings
following such term:
AFFILIATE shall mean, as to any Shareholder, (i) if such Shareholder is
an entity, the partners, members, retired partners, retired members, managers,
directors and officers, as the case may be, of such Shareholder, (ii) the
partners or members of any of the parties referred to in the foregoing clause of
this definition, (iii) any parent, spouse or lineal descendant sharing the same
household of such Shareholder or any of the parties referred to in the foregoing
clauses of this definition, (iv) a trust for the benefit of such Shareholder or
any of the parties referred to in the foregoing clauses of this definition, (v)
any corporation, partnership or other entity controlled
by such Shareholder or by any of the parties referred to in the foregoing
clauses of this definition, and (vi) any other party that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or
is under common control with, any Shareholder.
BOARD shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION shall mean the Company's Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time.
COMMISSION shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
COMMON GROUP shall mean any Group that has a Common Shareholder as a
member thereof; provided however, that the Company and SoftLock Services, Inc.
shall not be considered a part of any Common Group.
COMMON SHAREHOLDERS shall mean the persons listed on Schedule II
hereto.
COMMON STOCK shall mean the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share.
CONVERSION SHARES shall mean, at any time, (i) the issued and
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (for purposes of calculating the number of
Conversion Shares at any time, each such share shall be deemed to be that number
of shares of Common Stock or other securities into which such share is then
convertible), (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the
issued and outstanding shares of Preferred Stock owned as of the date hereof by
the Preferred Shareholders, and (iii) any securities issued or issuable directly
or indirectly in respect of the aforesaid shares of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock, or both, in payment of a dividend or in connection with a stock split,
recapitalization or other similar event.
EQUITY SECURITY shall mean any capital stock (including the Common and
Preferred Stock) of the Company, whether now authorized or not, and rights,
options, warrants or rights to purchase capital stock, and securities of any
type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into capital stock; the
number of shares of an Equity Security which is an option, warrant, right or
convertible security shall be the number of shares of such Equity Security which
would result upon the immediate exercise of such option, warrant or right of
conversion of such convertible security, without regard to when such option,
warrant or right may in fact be exercised or such convertible security may in
fact be converted.
FIRST PUBLIC OFFERING shall mean the first firm commitment underwritten
public offering of the Company's Common Stock occurring after the date of this
Agreement.
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GROUP shall mean:
(i) IN THE CASE OF ANY SHAREHOLDER WHO IS AN INDIVIDUAL, such
Shareholder or any Affiliate of such Shareholder;
(ii) IN THE CASE OF ANY SHAREHOLDER WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP,
(A) such partnership and any of its limited or general partners, (B)
any corporation or other business organization to which such
partnership shall sell all or substantially all of its assets or with
which it shall be merged or consolidated and (C) any Affiliate of such
partnership;
(iii) IN THE CASE OF ANY SHAREHOLDER WHICH IS A CORPORATION,
(A) any such corporation, its parent and any of such corporation's or
parent's subsidiaries, (B) any corporation or other business
organization to which such corporation shall sell all or substantially
all of its assets or with which it shall be merged, and (C) any
Affiliate of such corporation;
(iv) IN THE CASE OF ANY SHAREHOLDER WHICH IS A LIMITED
LIABILITY COMPANY, OR OTHER BUSINESS ORGANIZATION NOT DESCRIBED IN (II)
OR (III) ABOVE, (A) any such company or organization, any member or
similar equity owner of such company or organization, and any person or
entity controlling such company or organization or under common control
with such company or organization, (B) any corporation, limited
liability company or other business organization to which such company
or organization shall sell all or substantially all of its assets or
with which it shall be merged, and (C) any Affiliate of such company or
organization; and
(v) in the case of any Shareholder which is a trust, (A) any
grantor or beneficiary of such trust, or (B) any Affiliate of such
grantor or beneficiary.
NEW SECURITIES shall mean any Equity Securities hereafter issued;
provided, however, that such term shall not include (i) securities purchased
under the Purchase Agreement and Conversion Shares; (ii) securities offered to
the public pursuant to a registration statement filed in accordance with the
provisions of the Securities Act; (iii) securities issued in connection with the
acquisition of another corporation by the Company by merger, purchase of
substantially all assets or other reorganization whereby the Company owns, upon
consummation of such acquisition, greater than fifty percent (50%) of the voting
power to elect the directors of such corporation; (iv) securities evidencing any
borrowings, direct or indirect, from financial institutions or other persons by
the Company, whether or not presently authorized, including any type of loan or
payment evidenced by any type of debt instrument, provided such securities do
not have equity features (such as warrants, options or other rights to purchase
capital stock) and are not convertible into capital stock of the Company; (v)
securities issued or issuable to employees, officers or directors of, or
consultants to, the Company pursuant to the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan"), provided that the number of shares so issued or issuable shall not
exceed 5,000,000 (subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar changes in
capitalization in accordance with the Plan); (vi) securities issued to financial
institutions and
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leasing companies in connection with borrowing or lease financing arrangements
of the Company, provided that such issuances or grants are approved by the Board
of Directors; and (vi) securities issued to suppliers, distributors and other
parties in payment of the Company's obligations, provided that such issuances or
grants are approved by the Board of Directors.
PREEMPTIVE SHARE shall mean, immediately prior to any issue of New
Securities, and as to each Preferred Group, the percentage which expresses the
ratio between (i) the number of Equity Securities owned at such time by such
Preferred Group (assuming that all such Equity Securities are fully converted
into the Common Stock), and (ii) the aggregate number of Equity Securities
(assuming all such Equity Securities are fully converted and/or exercised into
the Common Stock) outstanding at such time.
PREFERRED GROUP shall mean any Group that has a Preferred Shareholder
as a member thereof.
PREFERRED SHAREHOLDERS shall mean the persons listed on Schedule I
hereto.
PREFERRED STOCK shall mean the Company's Series A Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share.
PRO RATA SHARE shall mean, at any time, as to each Preferred Group, the
percentage which expresses the ratio between (i) the number of Equity Securities
owned at such time by such Preferred Group (assuming that all Equity Securities
owned by that Preferred Group are fully converted or exercised into Common
Stock), and (ii) the aggregate number of Equity Securities owned at such time by
all Preferred Groups (assuming that all Equity Securities owned by all Preferred
Groups are fully converted or exercised into Common Stock).
PUBLIC FLOAT shall mean the existence of a minimum aggregate market
value of at least $100,000,000 for the outstanding equity securities of the
Company that are registered under the Exchange Act, and held by non-Affiliates
of the Company, sustained for a ninety (90) day period.
PURCHASE AGREEMENT shall mean the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated as of the date hereof, among the Company, SoftLock Services, Inc. and the
initial Preferred Shareholders.
QUALIFIED PUBLIC OFFERING shall mean an underwritten public offering
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act
covering the offer and sale of Common Stock for the account of the Company, on a
firm commitment basis, yielding aggregate proceeds to the Company of $20,000,000
at a public offering price that is at least four times the then effective
"Conversion Price" of the Preferred Stock (as set forth in the Certificate of
Incorporation).
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SECURITIES ACT shall mean the Securities Act of l933, as amended, and
any successor statute thereto.
SELL, as to any Equity Security, shall mean to sell, or in any other
way directly or indirectly transfer, assign, distribute, encumber or otherwise
dispose of such Equity Security, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
SELLING GROUP shall mean any Common Group proposing to Sell any Equity
Security and which is obligated to deliver a Notice of Intention to Sell
pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
SHAREHOLDERS shall mean the persons listed on Schedules I and II hereto
and shall include any other party who agrees in writing with the parties hereto
to be bound by and to comply with all applicable provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 2
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.1. DESIGNATION OF NOMINEES.
(a) Pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders
of the Preferred Stock have the right to elect one member of the Board. So long
as the Preferred Shareholder named below shall continue to hold (with any
members of its Group) no less than thirty five percent (35%) of the Shares
initially acquired by it under the Purchase Agreement (on an as-converted
basis), such Preferred Shareholder shall be entitled, but shall be under no
obligation, to designate the nominee to be elected to the Board by the holders
of the Preferred Stock (the "Series A Director").
SI VENTURE FUND II, L.P. ("SI")
Initially, the Series A Director will be N. Xxxx Rin. Such Series A Director
shall be a Class III director under Section 5.2 of the Certificate of
Incorporation.
(b) In the event a designation is not made by SI in accordance
with this Section 2.1, unless otherwise agreed by such Preferred Shareholder or
unless SI has notified the Company in writing that it no longer wishes to have
the right to designate the nominee for Series A Director, the Preferred
Shareholders will use their best efforts to ensure that such position on the
Board shall be left vacant until a nominee is so designated but in no event
longer than thirty (30) days. If SI has notified the Company in writing that it
no longer wishes to designate the nominee for Series A Director, if SI fails to
designate a nominee within thirty (30) days after the position becomes vacant or
if SI shall no longer own thirty five percent (35%) or more of the Shares
initially acquired by it under the Purchase Agreement (on an as-converted
basis), the nominee for the Series A Director shall be designated by majority
action of the Preferred Shareholders.
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SECTION 2.2. VOTING FOR NOMINEES. Each Preferred Shareholder agrees to
vote the Equity Securities held by it from time to time for the nominee so
designated in accordance with Section 2.1 at any annual meeting of shareholders
of the Company at which such nominee is included on the slate of directors to be
elected, and at any special meeting of shareholders of the Company called for
the election of directors at which such nominee is included on the slate of
directors to be elected, in such manner as may be required to elect such
nominee.
SECTION 2.3. OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY. The Company agrees to use its best
efforts to cause the nominee so designated in accordance with Section 2.1 to be
included in part of the slate of directors to be recommended to, and elected by
shareholders, at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company electing the
Class III directors (or any earlier annual meeting if the Series A Director then
in office shall have died, resigned or been removed), and at any special meeting
of shareholders of the Company called for the election of directors including
the Class III directorship held by the Series A Director.
SECTION 2.4. REMOVAL; ELECTION OF SUCCESSORS. If (a) the Series A
Director elected pursuant to Section 2.1 is removed or (b) such director shall
have resigned or shall be unable to serve, then, in any such case, the Company
and the Shareholders will use their best efforts to cause the Board of Directors
to appoint a replacement Series A Director nominated by SI to serve on the Board
of Directors until the next annual meeting of shareholders and to include such
person on the slate of directors to be elected at such next annual meeting. At
such meeting each Preferred Shareholder shall vote to accomplish said result.
The procedures set forth in this Section 2, including Section 2.1, shall apply
to the nomination and election of any replacement for a Series A Director. If
requested by SI, at the next annual meeting of shareholders, the Company will
include on the agenda an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation to permit
the Series A Director to be removed with or without cause by the Preferred
Shareholders only and without the approval or concurrence of the holders of
outstanding shares of any other class of voting stock.
SECTION 2.5. PROXY. If any Preferred Shareholder shall refuse to vote
the Equity Securities held by it as provided in any of the foregoing Sections of
this Section 2 at any meeting of shareholders of the Company, or shall refuse to
give its written consent in lieu of a meeting, thereupon, without further action
by such Preferred Shareholder, the President or any Vice President of the
Company shall be, and hereby is, irrevocably constituted the attorney-in-fact
and proxy of such Preferred Shareholder for the purpose of voting, and shall
vote such shares at such meeting as provided in the foregoing Sections of this
Section 2 or give such consent, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.6. AUDIT AND COMPENSATION COMMITTEES. Except as otherwise
required by law or regulation including but not limited to the federal
securities laws or requirements of any exchange or market on which the Company's
Equity Securities are listed or quoted from time to time, the Company shall, by
provision of its bylaws or otherwise, establish and maintain a Compensation
Committee and an Audit Committee of the Board. For so long as the holders of
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Preferred Stock have the right to elect a director to the Board, the Audit
Committee and the Compensation Committee shall each consist of at least two
directors, one of whom is the Series A Director and the other of whom shall be
unaffiliated with management of the Company.
SECTION 3
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF EQUITY SECURITIES
BY SHAREHOLDERS
SECTION 3.1. LIMITATIONS. Each Common Shareholder hereby agrees that
such Common Shareholder shall not at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
completion of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) such time as the Preferred
Shareholders in the aggregate cease to own at least ten percent (10%) of the
Shares initially acquired by them pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Sell any
Equity Securities except:
(a) by sale in accordance with this Section 3;
(b) by pledge which creates a mere security interest in the
Equity Securities, provided that the pledgee thereof shall agree in writing in
advance with the parties hereto to be bound by and comply with all applicable
provisions of this Agreement to the same extent as if such pledgee were the
Common Shareholder making such pledge;
(c) by transfer to another member of its Common Group,
provided that the transferee of such Equity Securities shall agree in writing
with the parties hereto to be bound by and to comply with all applicable
provisions of this Agreement and to be deemed a member of such Common Group; or
(d) by sale as a part of a registered public offering of the
Company's securities in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement, in which
case the transferee of such Equity Securities shall not be bound by, or entitled
to the benefits of, this Agreement.
SECTION 3.2. PROCEDURES ON SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES. Except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, each Common Shareholder, and each member of
its Common Group which agrees to comply herewith, hereby agrees that until the
earlier of (i) completion of a Qualified Public Offering, or (ii) such time as
the Preferred Shareholders in the aggregate cease to own at least ten percent
(10%) of the Shares initially acquired by them pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement, such Common Shareholder and the members of such Common Shareholder's
Group shall not Sell any Equity Securities except in accordance with the
following procedures:
(a) The Selling Group shall first deliver to the Company a
written Notice of Intention to Sell offering to the Company such Equity
Securities owned by the Selling Group at the purchase price and on the other
material terms specified therein at which it proposes to Sell the Equity
Securities. The Company shall have the right of first refusal and option for a
period of ten (10) days after delivery to the Company of the Notice of Intention
to Sell, to purchase all
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or any part of the Equity Securities so offered at the purchase price and on the
other terms stated therein. Such acceptance shall be made by delivering a
written Notice of Acceptance to the Selling Group within the aforesaid ten (10)
day period.
(b) In the event that the Company shall elect to purchase none
or less than all of the Equity Securities so offered, the Selling Group shall
promptly deliver to each Preferred Shareholder a written Notice of Intention to
Sell, which shall be irrevocable for a period of ten (10) days after delivery
thereof, offering to each Preferred Group the Equity Securities that were
offered to, and not purchased by, the Company, at the same purchase price and on
the same other terms, whereupon each Preferred Group shall have the right and
option for a period of ten (10) days after delivery to each Preferred
Shareholder of the Notice of Intention to Sell, to accept up to its Pro Rata
Share of the Equity Securities so offered which are not so purchased by the
Company at the purchase price and on the other terms stated therein. Such
acceptance shall be made by delivering a written Notice of Acceptance to the
Selling Group within the aforesaid ten (10) day period.
(c) If any Preferred Group shall fail to accept, or shall
reject in writing, the offer made pursuant to Section 3.2(b), then, upon the
earlier of the expiration of such ten (10) day period, or the receipt of Notices
of Acceptance or written rejections of such offer from all Preferred Groups, the
Selling Group's then remaining Equity Securities formerly subject to such offer
shall be reoffered to all other Preferred Groups, if any, which shall have
accepted their Pro Rata Share of such original offer. Such subsequent offer
shall be on the terms and subject to acceptance in the manner provided in
Section 3.2(b), except that the Preferred Groups receiving such subsequent offer
shall have (i) the right and option to accept such offer with respect to all of
the then remaining Equity Securities subject thereto pro rata, in accordance
with their respective Pro Rata Shares for a period of five (5) business days and
(ii) the further right and option to offer, in any Notice of Acceptance, to
purchase any of such Equity Securities not purchased by other Preferred Groups,
in which case such Equity Securities not accepted by the other Preferred Groups
shall be deemed to have been offered to and accepted by the Preferred Groups
which have exercised their option under this clause (ii), pro rata in accordance
with their respective Pro Rata Shares, and on the above-described terms and
conditions.
(d) The closing of any sales of Equity Securities under the
terms of Section 3.2(a), Section 3.2(b) and Section 3.2(c) shall be made at the
offices of the Company on a mutually satisfactory business day within fourteen
(l4) days after the expiration of the aforesaid periods. Delivery of
certificates or other instruments evidencing such Equity Securities duly
endorsed for transfer to the Company or to members of the Preferred Groups, as
the case may be, shall be made on such date against payment of the purchase
price therefor.
(e) Any Preferred Group which does not deliver a Notice of
Acceptance during the ten (10) day period referred to in Section 3.2(b) hereof
shall have the right during such ten (10) day period to deliver to the Selling
Group a Notice of Intention to Participate. The Company shall compute the
proportion of shares of Equity Securities available for sale by the Selling
Group to the purchaser thereof. If, and to the extent the Selling Group is to
Sell all or
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part of the remaining Equity Securities covered by the Notice of Intention to
Sell as contemplated by Section 3.2(f) hereof, it shall be a condition of such
sale that each Preferred Group delivering the Notice of Intention to Participate
shall have the right to have a portion of its Equity Securities purchased by the
purchaser of the Equity Securities covered by the Notice of Intention to Sell,
such portion to be equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the
aggregate number of Equity Securities to be purchased by the purchaser by (ii)
the "Ownership Percentage" (as hereinafter defined) of such Preferred Group
giving a Notice of Intention to Participate. The Ownership Percentage for any
Preferred Group giving a Notice of Intention to Participate shall be the
percentage figure which expresses the ratio between (i) the number of Equity
Securities desired to be sold by such Preferred Group and (ii) the aggregate of
(a) the number of Equity Securities desired to be sold by all Preferred Groups
delivering a Notice of Intention to Participate and (b) the number of Equity
Securities to be sold by the Selling Group delivering a Notice of Intention to
Sell. The sale of any Equity Securities by a Preferred Group pursuant to a
Notice of Intention to Participate shall be subject to all terms and conditions
applicable to the sale by the Selling Group as set forth in the Notice of
Intention to Sell.
(f) If effective acceptance shall not be received pursuant to
Section 3.2(a), Section 3.2(b) and Section 3.2(c) above with respect to all
Equity Securities offered for sale pursuant to a Notice of Intention to Sell,
then the Selling Group may sell all or any part of the remaining Equity
Securities so offered for sale at a price not less than the price, and on terms
not more favorable to the purchaser thereof than the terms, stated in the
original Notice of Intention to Sell, at any time within ninety (90) days after
the expiration of the last offer required by Section 3.2(b) and Section 3.2(c)
above. In the event the remaining Equity Securities are not sold by the Selling
Group during such ninety (90) day period, the right of the Selling Group to sell
such remaining Equity Securities shall expire and the obligations of this
Section 3.2 shall be reinstated; provided, however, that in the event the
Selling Group determines, at any time during such ninety (90) day period, that
the sale of all or any part of the remaining Equity Securities on the terms set
forth in the Notice of Intention to Sell is impractical, the Selling Group can
terminate the offer and reinstate the procedure provided in this Section 3.2
without waiting for the expiration of such ninety (90) day period.
(g) Anything contained in this Section 3.2 to the contrary
notwithstanding, any purchaser or other transferee of Equity Securities pursuant
to this Section 3.2 who is not a Shareholder but who is an employee of the
Company as of the date of the purchase or transfer shall agree in writing in
advance with the parties hereto to be bound by and comply with all applicable
provisions of this Agreement and shall be deemed to be a Common Shareholder for
all purposes of this Agreement.
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SECTION 4
SALE OF NEW SECURITIES BY THE COMPANY
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company hereby
agrees that until (but not including) the consummation of a Qualified Public
Offering, it shall not Sell any New Securities except in accordance with the
following procedures:
(a) The Company shall first deliver to each Preferred
Shareholder a written Notice of Intention To Sell, which shall be irrevocable
for a period of ten (10) days after delivery thereof, offering to each Preferred
Group the right to purchase up to its Preemptive Share of such New Securities at
the purchase price and on the terms specified therein. Each Preferred Group
shall have the right and option, for such period of ten (10) days after delivery
to Preferred Shareholders of such Notice of Intention To Sell, to purchase all
or any part of the New Securities so offered up to its Preemptive Share at the
purchase price and on the terms stated therein. Such acceptance shall be made by
delivering a written Notice of Acceptance to the Company within the aforesaid
ten (10) day period.
(b) If any Preferred Group shall fail to accept, or shall
reject in writing, the offer made pursuant to Section 4(a), then, upon the
earlier of the expiration of the aforesaid ten (10) day period or the receipt of
Notices of Acceptance or written rejections of such offer from all Preferred
Groups, the then remaining New Securities formerly subject to such offer shall
be reoffered to all other Preferred Groups, if any, which shall have accepted
their Preemptive Share of such original offer. Such subsequent offer shall be on
the terms and subject to acceptance in the manner provided in Section 4(a),
except that the Preferred Groups receiving such subsequent offer shall have (i)
the right and option to accept such offer with respect to all of the then
remaining New Securities subject thereto pro rata in accordance with their
respective Preemptive Shares, for a period of five (5) business days, and (ii)
the further right and option to offer, in any Notice of Acceptance, to purchase
any of such New Securities not purchased by other Preferred Groups, in which
case such New Securities not accepted by other Preferred Groups shall be deemed
to have been offered to and accepted by the Preferred Groups which have
exercised their option under this clause (ii), pro rata, in accordance with
their respective Preemptive Shares, and on the above-described terms and
conditions.
(c) The closing of any sales of New Securities under the terms
of Section 4(a) shall be made at the offices of the Company on a mutually
satisfactory business day within fourteen (14) days after the expiration of the
aforesaid periods. Delivery of certificates or other instruments evidencing such
New Securities duly endorsed for transfer to the Preferred Shareholders shall be
made on such date against payment of the purchase price therefor.
(d) If effective acceptance shall not be received pursuant to
Section 4(a) above with respect to all New Securities offered for sale pursuant
to a Notice of Intention To
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Sell, then the Company may sell all or any part of the remaining New Securities
so offered for sale at a price not less than the price, and on terms not more
favorable to the purchaser thereof than the terms stated in the original Notice
of Intention To Sell, at any time within one hundred twenty (l20) days after the
expiration of the offer required by Section 4(a) above. In the event the
remaining New Securities are not sold by the Company during such one hundred
twenty (l20) day period, the right of the Company to sell such remaining New
Securities shall expire and the obligations of this Section 4 shall be
reinstated; provided, however, that in the event the Company determines, at any
time during such one hundred twenty (l20) day period, that the sale of all or
any part of the remaining New Securities on the terms set forth in the Notice of
Intention To Sell is impractical, the Company can terminate the offer and
reinstate the procedure provided in this Section 4 without waiting for the
expiration of such one hundred twenty (l20) day period.
SECTION 5
TRANSFER OF SHARES; COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.1. TRANSFER BY SHAREHOLDERS. No Shareholder shall sell,
assign, transfer, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of, whether by operation
of law or otherwise, any Equity Securities unless any such transfer is made to a
transferee who concurrently with or prior to such transfer becomes a party to
this Agreement.
SECTION 5.2. REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER. The Company shall permit
registration of transfer of Equity Securities held by a Shareholder only in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any transfer of Equity Securities
which is made in any manner contrary to the provisions of this Agreement shall
be void and shall not be effective to constitute the transferee as a shareholder
of the Company entitled to any rights, benefits, and privileges as such.
SECTION 5.3. LEGEND. Each certificate of Common Stock or Preferred
Stock and certificates representing other Equity Securities of the Company, held
by a Shareholder, shall be stamped or otherwise have endorsed or imprinted
thereon a legend in substantially the following form:
"The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate, and the
rights of the holder hereof, are subject to the terms and conditions of a
Shareholders' and Rights Agreement, dated as of December 30, 1999 (a copy of
which is on file with the Company), as the same may be amended from time to
time, and no transfer of the shares represented hereby or of shares issued in
exchange therefor shall be valid or effective unless the terms and conditions of
such Agreement have been fulfilled."
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SECTION 6
DURATION
The provisions of Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this Agreement shall be of
no further force or effect upon the closing of a Qualified Public Offering. In
addition, the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement shall be of no further
force or effect upon (a) the date that is four (4) years after the First Public
Offering, or (b) as to a particular Preferred Shareholder, at such earlier time
as such Preferred Shareholder may sell all Shares and Conversion Shares held by
such Preferred Shareholder in any ninety (90) day period pursuant to Commission
Rule 144, provided, however, that in the case of either clause (a) or (b), there
exists a Public Float at such time.
SECTION 7
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF
SECURITIES; COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES ACT
SECTION 7.1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. As used in this Section 7, the
following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
"RESTRICTED SECURITIES" shall mean the securities of the Company
required to bear or bearing the legend set forth in Section 7.2 hereof.
"REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean, from time to time, (i) the
Conversion Shares, and (ii) any shares of Common Stock issued as dividends on
the Shares.
The terms "REGISTER," "REGISTERED" AND "REGISTRATION" shall refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations
thereunder, and the effectiveness of such registration statement.
"REGISTRATION EXPENSES" shall mean all expenses incurred by the Company
in compliance with Sections 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6 hereof, including, without
limitation, all registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company and one special counsel for all Holders
chosen by the Holders of a majority of the securities included in such
registration, blue sky fees and expenses, and the expense of any special audits
incident to or required by any such registration (but excluding the compensation
of regular employees of the Company, which shall be paid in any event by the
Company).
"SELLING EXPENSES" shall mean all underwriting discounts, stock
transfer taxes and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable
Securities, and all fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder not
specifically included in Registration Expenses.
"HOLDER" shall mean any holder of outstanding Shares or Registrable
Securities.
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"INITIATING HOLDERS" shall mean any Preferred Shareholders (or their
assignees under Section 7.13 hereof) who in the aggregate are Holders of not
less than twenty percent (20%) of the then outstanding Registrable Securities,
and, after any other Holder or Holders have joined in a request by Initiating
Holders, shall include such other Holder or Holders.
"OTHER SHAREHOLDERS" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.4(b).
SECTION 7.2. RESTRICTIVE LEGEND. Each certificate representing (i) the
Shares, or (ii) Conversion Shares, or (iii) any other securities issued in
respect of the Shares or the Conversion Shares, upon any stock split, stock
dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or similar event, shall
(unless otherwise permitted or unless the securities evidenced by such
certificate shall have been registered under the Securities Act) be stamped or
otherwise imprinted with a legend substantially in the following form (in
addition to any legend required under applicable state securities laws):
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED
FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION
IS NOT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO A VALID EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS
Upon request of a holder of such a certificate, the Company shall
remove the foregoing legend from the certificate or issue to such holder a new
certificate therefor free of any transfer legend, if with such request, the
Company shall have received either the opinion referred to in Section 7.3(a)(i)
or the "no-action" letter referred to in Section 7.3(a)(ii), to the effect that
any transfer by such holder of the securities evidenced by such certificate will
not violate the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
SECTION 7.3. NOTICE OF PROPOSED TRANSFERS AND SECURITIES ACT
COMPLIANCE.
The holder of Restricted Securities by acceptance thereof
agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 7.3. Prior
to any proposed transfer of any Restricted Securities (other than under
circumstances described in Sections 7.4, 7.5 and 7.6 hereof), the holder thereof
shall give written notice to the Company of such holder's intention to effect
such transfer. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of
the proposed transfer in sufficient detail, and shall be accompanied (except
that transactions in compliance with Rule 144 may instead be accompanied by such
broker and seller representations reasonably requested by the Company to support
the qualification of the transaction under Rule 144) by either (i) a written
opinion of Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP or other legal counsel (including counsel for
the holder who also may be an employee of the holder) who shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the
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Company, addressed to the Company and reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to the Company's counsel, to the effect that the proposed transfer of
the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or (ii) a "no-action"
letter from the Commission to the effect that the distribution of such
securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff
of the Commission that action be taken with respect thereto. Upon receipt by the
Company of such notices and accompanying opinion or "no-action" letter, if
required, the holder of such Restricted Securities shall be entitled to transfer
such Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice delivered
by the holder to the Company. Each certificate evidencing the Restricted
Securities transferred as above provided shall bear the appropriate restrictive
legend set forth in Section 7.2 above, except that such certificate need not
bear such restrictive legend if such legend is no longer required in the opinion
of counsel or "no-action" letter referred to above is to the further effect that
such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions
of the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws or if the transaction
is made, to the Company's reasonable satisfaction, in compliance with Rule 144.
SECTION 7.4. REQUESTED REGISTRATION.
(a) REQUEST FOR REGISTRATION. If at any time after the earlier
of (x) two (2) years from the initial issuance of Shares pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, or (y) the closing of the First Public Offering, the Company
shall receive from Initiating Holders a written request that the Company effect
a registration with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities, the
Company will, without limiting any other rights under this Section 7:
(i) promptly give written notice of the proposed
registration to all other Holders; and
(ii) as soon as practicable, use its diligent best
efforts to effect such registration (including, without
limitation, the execution of an undertaking to file
post-effective amendments, appropriate qualification under
applicable blue sky or other state securities laws and
appropriate compliance with applicable regulations issued
under the Securities Act) as may be so requested and as would
permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such
portion of such Registrable Securities as are specified in
such request, together with all or such portion of the
Registrable Securities of any Holder or Holders joining in
such request as are specified in a written request given by
such Holder or Holders within ten (10) days after receipt of
such written notice from the Company; provided that the
Company shall not be obligated to effect, or to take any
action to effect, any such registration pursuant to this
Section 7.4:
(A) after the Company has effected one (1)
such registration pursuant to this Section 7.4 and such
registration has been declared or ordered effective and has
remained in effect for one hundred twenty (120) days
thereafter; or
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(B) if the request for registration does
not request the registration of Registrable Securities with a
proposed public offering price of $10,000,000 or more; or
(C) If the Company shall furnish to such
Holders a certificate signed by the President of the Company,
stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of
Directors of the Company it would be seriously detrimental to
the Company and its shareholders for such Registration
Statement to be filed at the date filing would be required, in
which case the Company shall have an additional period of not
more than 30 days within which to file such registration
statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not use
this right more than once in any 12 month period.
Subject to Section 7.4(a)(ii), the Company shall file a
registration statement on Commission Form S-1 covering the Registrable
Securities so requested to be registered as soon as practicable after receipt of
the request or requests of the Initiating Holders.
The registration statement filed pursuant to the request of
the Initiating Holders may, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4(b) below,
include other securities of the Company which are held by officers or directors
of the Company or which are held by parties who, by virtue of agreements with
the Company, are entitled to include their securities in any such registration.
(b) UNDERWRITING. If the Initiating Holders intend to
distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an
underwriting, they shall so advise the Company as a part of their request made
pursuant to this Section 7.4 and the Company shall include such information in
the written notice referred to in Section 7.4(a)(i) above. The right of any
Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 7.4 shall be conditioned upon
such Holder's participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such
Holder's Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually
agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and such Holder) to
the extent provided herein.
If officers or directors of the Company holding other
securities of the Company shall request inclusion in any registration pursuant
to this Section 7.4, or if holders of securities of the Company who are
entitled, by contract with the Company, to have securities included in such
registration (the "Other Shareholders") request such inclusion, the Initiating
Holders shall, on behalf of all Holders, offer to include the securities of such
officers, directors and Other Shareholders in the underwriting and may condition
such offer on their acceptance of all applicable provisions of this Section 7.
The Company shall (together with all Holders, officers, directors and Other
Shareholders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting)
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the representative
of the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by a majority
in interest of the Initiating Holders and reasonably acceptable to the Company.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.4, if
the representative of the underwriter or underwriters advises the Initiating
Holders in writing that marketing factors make it advisable to impose a
limitation on the number of shares to be underwritten, the securities of the
Company (other than Registrable Securities) held by officers or directors of the
Company and by Other Shareholders shall be excluded from such registration to
the extent so required by such limitation and if a limitation of the number of
shares is still required, the Initiating Holders shall so advise all Holders of
Registrable Securities whose securities would otherwise be underwritten pursuant
hereto, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities that may be included
in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated among all such Holders
in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of
Registrable Securities held by such persons at the time of filing the
registration statement. No Registrable Securities or any other securities
excluded from the underwriting by reason of the underwriter's marketing
limitation shall be included in such registration.
If any Holder of Registrable Securities, officer, director or
Other Shareholder above disapproves of the terms of the underwriting, such party
may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company, the
underwriter and the Initiating Holders. The securities so withdrawn shall also
be withdrawn from registration.
If the underwriter has not limited the number of Registrable
Securities or other securities to be underwritten, the Company may include its
securities for its own account in such registration if the underwriter so agrees
and if the number of Registrable Securities and other securities which would
otherwise have been included in such registration and underwriting will not
thereby be limited.
SECTION 7.5. COMPANY REGISTRATION.
(a) NOTICE OF REGISTRATION. If the Company shall determine to
register any of its securities either for its own account or the account of a
security holder or holders exercising their respective demand registration
rights, other than a registration on Commission Forms S-4 or S-8, or a
registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, or a registration
relating solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction, or a registration on any
registration form which does not permit secondary sales, the Company will:
(i) promptly give to each Holder written notice thereof
(which shall include a list of the jurisdictions in
which the Company intends to attempt to qualify such
securities under the applicable blue sky or other
state securities laws); and
(ii) include in such registration (and any related
qualification under blue sky laws or other
compliance), and in any underwriting involved
therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in
a written request or requests, made by any Holder
within ten (10) days after receipt of the written
notice from
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the Company described in clause (i) above, except as
set forth in Section 7.5(b) below; provided, however,
that if at any time after giving written notice of
its intention to register any securities and prior to
the effective date of the registration statement
filed in connection with such registration, the
Company shall determine for any reason not to
register or to delay registration of such securities,
the Company may, at its election, give written notice
of such determination to each Holder of Registrable
Securities and, thereupon, (i) in the case of a
determination not to register, shall be relieved of
its obligation to register any Registrable Securities
in connection with such registration (but not from
its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in
connection therewith) and (ii) in the case of a
determination to delay registering, shall be
permitted to delay registering any Registrable
Securities, for the same period as the delay in
registering such other securities.
(b) UNDERWRITING. If the registration of which the Company
gives notice is for a registered public offering involving an underwriting, the
Company shall so advise the Holders as part of the written notice given pursuant
to Section 7.5(a)(i). In such event, the right of any Holder to registration
pursuant to Section 7.5 shall be conditioned upon such Holder's participation in
such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Securities in
the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to
distribute their securities through such underwriting shall (together with the
Company, directors and officers and the Other Shareholders distributing their
securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in
customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for underwriting by
the Company.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.5, if
the underwriter determines that marketing factors require a limitation on the
number of shares to be underwritten, the underwriter may (subject to the
allocation priority set forth below) exclude from such registration and
underwriting some or all of the Registrable Securities which would otherwise be
underwritten pursuant hereto. The Company shall so advise all holders of
securities requesting registration, and the number of shares of securities that
are entitled to be included in the registration and underwriting shall be
allocated in the following manner: The number of shares that may be included in
the registration and underwriting on behalf of such Holders, directors and
officers and Other Shareholders shall be allocated among such Holders, directors
and officers and Other Shareholders in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to
the respective amounts of Registrable Securities and other securities held by
such persons at the time of filing the registration statement, provided,
however, that the underwriter's limitation shall not apply to Holders unless it
also applies in the same proportion to the Company's other Shareholders. In
addition, the Company hereby covenants and agrees not to grant registration
rights similar to those contained in Section 7.5 to any other party that will
provide such party with preferential terms and conditions with respect to
underwriters' limitations.
-17-
If any Holder of Registrable Securities or any officer,
director or Other Shareholder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting,
such party may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and
the underwriter. Any Registrable Securities or other securities excluded or
withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration.
SECTION 7.6. REGISTRATION ON FORM S-3. The Company shall take
reasonable actions to qualify for the use of Form S-3 or any comparable or
successor form or forms of the Commission within twelve (12) months of its First
Public Offering; and to that end the Company shall take reasonable actions to
register (whether or not required by law to do so) the Common Stock under the
Exchange Act, in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act following
the effective date of the registration of Equity Securities of the Company on
Form S-1. At any time when the Company is qualified for the use of Form S-3, in
addition to the rights contained in the foregoing provisions of this Section 7,
and provided that at such time the Holders continue to hold at least ten percent
(10%) of the Registrable Securities initially issuable to them upon conversion
of the Shares initially acquired by them pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the
Holders of Registrable Securities shall have the right to request registrations
on Form S-3 (by written request stating the number of shares of Registrable
Securities to be disposed of and the intended method of disposition of such
shares by such Holder or Holders), subject only to the following:
(i) No request made under this Section 7.6 shall require
a registration statement requested therein to become
effective prior to ninety (90) days after the
effective date of a registration statement filed by
the Company covering the First Public Offering; and
(ii) The Company shall not be required to effect a
registration pursuant to this Section 7.6 unless (a)
the Registrable Securities requested to be registered
pursuant to this Section 7.6 have a proposed public
offering price of $500,000 or more; and (b) the
Company has not completed a registration on Form S-3
within the preceding twelve (12) month period.
The Company shall give notice to all Holders of Registrable
Securities of the receipt of a request for registration pursuant to this Section
7.6 and shall provide a reasonable opportunity for other Holders to participate
in the registration, and, if the intended method of disposition specified as
aforesaid is an underwritten public offering, participation by the Company and
other holders of Common Stock shall be on the basis set forth in Section 7.4(b)
above. Subject to the foregoing, the Company will use its best efforts to effect
promptly the registration of all shares of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 to
the extent requested by the Holder or Holders thereof for purposes of
disposition.
SECTION 7.7. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION. The Company shall bear all
Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration,
qualification and compliance by the Company pursuant to Sections 7.4, 7.5 and
7.6 hereof. All Selling Expenses shall be borne by
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the holders of the securities so registered pro rata on the basis of the number
of their shares so registered. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above,
the Company shall not be required to pay for any expenses of any registration
proceeding under Section 7.4 if the registration request is subsequently
withdrawn at the request of the Initiating Holder or Holders of a majority of
the Registrable Securities to have been registered, and the Holders of
Registrable Securities to have been registered shall bear all such expenses pro
rata on the basis of the Registrable Securities to have been registered.
Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, however, (a) if at the time of the
withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a materially adverse change in the
condition, business or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders
at the time of their request, then the Company shall be required to pay said
expenses, and (b) the Holders electing to withdraw a registration may specify in
the notice of withdrawal that the withdrawn registration is to be treated as a
registration declared effective and in effect for 120 days for purposes of
determining the number of registrations effected pursuant to Section 7.4, in
which case the Company shall be required to pay said expenses.
SECTION 7.8. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In the case of each registration
effected by the Company pursuant to this Section 7, the Company will keep each
Holder advised in writing as to the initiation of each registration and as to
the completion thereof. Except as provided in Section 7.6, at its expense, the
Company will:
(a) keep such registration effective for a period of one
hundred twenty (120) days or until the Holder or Holders have completed the
distribution described in the registration statement relating thereto, whichever
first occurs, provided, however, that such 120-day period shall be extended for
a period of time equal to the period the Holder refrains from selling any
securities included in such registration in accordance with the provisions of
Section 7.14 hereof;
(b) furnish such number of prospectuses and other documents
incident thereto as a Holder from time to time may reasonably request; and
(c) Use its best efforts to register or qualify the
Registrable Securities under the securities or blue-sky laws of such
jurisdictions as any Holder may request; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be obligated to register or qualify such Registrable Securities in any
particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to execute a
general consent to service of process in order to effect such registration,
qualification or compliance, unless the Company is already subject to service in
such jurisdiction and except as may be required by the Securities Act or
applicable rules or regulations thereunder; and
(d) To the extent the Company then is able to meet the
applicable listing standards, use its best efforts to cause the Common Shares to
be listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market
System.
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SECTION 7.9. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) The Company, with respect to each registration,
qualification and compliance effected pursuant to this Section 7, will indemnify
and hold harmless each Holder, each of its officers, directors and partners, and
each party controlling such Holder, and each underwriter, if any, and each party
who controls any underwriter, against all claims, losses, damages and
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any
untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in
any prospectus, offering circular or other document (including any related
registration statement, notification or the like) incident to any such
registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged
omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the
Company of the Securities Act or any rule or regulation thereunder applicable to
the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in
connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, and will
reimburse each such Holder, each of its officers, directors and partners, and
each party controlling such Holder, each such underwriter and each party who
controls any such underwriter, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss,
damage, liability or action, provided that the Company will not be liable in any
such case (i) to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability or
expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission based
solely upon written information furnished to the Company by such Holder or
underwriter, as the case may be, and stated to be specifically for use therein
or (ii) to any particular Holder, officer, director or partner or other party
controlling such Holder, or underwriter or party controlling an underwriter to
the extent that any such claim, loss, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in any final, preliminary or summary prospectus if such
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission is
completely corrected in an amendment or supplement to such prospectus provided
to, and which the relevant Holder or underwriter or its controlling persons
fails to deliver prior to or concurrently with the sales of the Registrable
Securities to the person or entity asserting such claim, loss, damage or
liability.
(b) Each Holder and Other Shareholder will, if Registrable
Securities held by such party are included in the securities as to which such
registration, qualification or compliance is being effected, indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers and each underwriter,
if any, of the Company's securities covered by such a registration statement,
each party who controls the Company or such underwriter, each other such Holder
and Other Shareholder and each of their respective officers, directors and
partners, and each party controlling such Holder or Other Shareholder, against
all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of
a material fact contained in any such registration statement, prospectus,
offering circular or other document, or any omission (or alleged omission) to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and such
Holders, Other Shareholders, directors, officers, partners, parties,
underwriters or control persons for any legal or any other
-20-
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any
such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or
omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement,
prospectus, offering circular or other document solely in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Holder or
Other Shareholder and stated to be specifically for use therein; provided,
however, that the obligations of such Holders and Other Shareholders hereunder
shall be limited to an amount equal to the proceeds to each such Holder or Other
Shareholder of securities sold as contemplated herein.
(c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section
7.9 (the "Indemnified Party") shall give notice to the party required to provide
indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party") promptly after such Indemnified Party
has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall
permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any
litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the Indemnifying
Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any litigation resulting
therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not
unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such
defense at such party's expense (unless the Indemnified Party shall have been
advised by counsel that actual or potential differing interests or defenses
exist or may exist between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party, in
which case such expense shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party), and provided
further that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided
herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this
Section 7 except to the extent such failure to give notice shall materially
adversely affect the Indemnifying Party in the defense of any claim or
litigation. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or
litigation, shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to
entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or
litigation. If the defense of any claim or resulting litigation is not assumed
by the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party will not be subject to any
liability for any settlement made without its consent, but such consent may not
be unreasonably withheld; provided that an Indemnifying Party shall not be
deemed unreasonable in withholding consent to any settlement involving the
imposition of equitable remedies or involving the imposition of any material
obligations on such Indemnifying Party other than financial obligations for
which such Indemnified Party will be indemnified hereunder.
(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to
joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any
holder of Restricted Securities exercising rights under this Agreement, or any
controlling person of any such holder, makes a claim for indemnification
pursuant to this Section 7.9 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a
final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration
of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such
indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that
this Section 7.9 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution
under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling holder
or any such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is
provided
-21-
under this Section 7.9; then, and in each such case, the Company and such holder
will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that
such holder is responsible for the portion represented by the percentage that
the public offering price of its Restricted Securities offered by the
registration statement bears to the public offering price of all securities
offered by such registration statement, and the Company is responsible for the
remaining portion; provided, however, that, in any such case, (A) no such holder
will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the public offering price
of all such Restricted Securities offered by it pursuant to such registration
statement; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to
contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
SECTION 7.10. INFORMATION BY HOLDER. Each Holder of Registrable
Securities, and each Other Shareholder holding securities included in any
registration, shall furnish to the Company such information regarding such
Holder or Other Shareholder as the Company may reasonably request in writing and
as shall be reasonably required in connection with any registration,
qualification or compliance referred to in this Section 7.
SECTION 7.11. LIMITATIONS ON REGISTRATION OF ISSUES OF SECURITIES. From
and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not enter into any
agreement with any holder or prospective holder of any securities of the Company
giving such holder or prospective holder the right to require the Company to
initiate any registration of any securities of the Company that would provide
such holder or prospective holder with registration rights that are inconsistent
with or more favorable than the rights of the Holders set forth in this Section
7; provided that this Section 7.11 shall not limit the right of the Company to
enter into any agreements with any holder or prospective holder of any
securities of the Company giving such holder or prospective holder the right to
require the Company, upon any registration of any of its securities, to include,
among the securities which the Company is then registering, securities owned by
such holder and provided further that a majority of the Holders of the
Registrable Securities may waive the requirement that the Company not enter into
any agreement giving a holder of any securities of the Company the right to
require the Company to initiate registration of any securities of the Company.
Any right given by the Company to any holder or prospective holder of the
Company's securities in connection with the registration of securities shall be
conditioned such that it shall be (i) consistent with the provisions of this
Section 7 and with the rights of the Holders provided in this Agreement, and
(ii) require the inclusion of Registrable Securities (within the meaning of this
Agreement) in any registration required by any such holder or prospective holder
on the same basis as securities of Other Shareholders are required to be
included in registrations effected pursuant to Sections 7.4 and 7.5 of this
Agreement.
SECTION 7.12. RULE 144 REPORTING. With a view to making available the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission, which may permit
the sale of the Restricted Securities to the public without registration, the
Company agrees to:
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(a) Make and keep public information available, as those
terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
(b) Use its best efforts to file with the Commission in a
timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act; and
(c) So long as a Preferred Shareholder owns any Restricted
Securities, furnish to the Preferred Shareholders forthwith upon request a
written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting
requirements of Rule 144 (at any time from and after ninety (90) days following
the effective date of the First Public Offering), and of the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the
Company, and such other reports and documents so filed as a Preferred
Shareholder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation
of the Commission allowing a Preferred Shareholder to sell any such securities
without registration.
SECTION 7.13. TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights to cause the
Company to register securities granted by the Company under this Section 7 may
be assigned by any Holder to a transferee or assignee, provided that the Company
is given written notice at the time of or within a reasonable time after said
transfer, stating the name and address of said transferee or assignee and
identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are
being assigned, and provided further that the transferee or assignee of such
rights assumes the obligations of such Preferred Shareholder under this Section
7.
SECTION 7.14. "MARKET STAND-OFF" AGREEMENT. Each Holder of Registrable
Securities agrees, if requested by the managing underwriter of the First Public
Offering or of any other underwritten offering in which part of the Registrable
Securities are not sold, to enter into an agreement pursuant to which such
Holder agrees not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Common Stock
(or other securities) of the Company held by it during a period specified by
such underwriter, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the
effective date of the registration statement of the Company filed under the
Securities Act in connection with the First Public Offering or any subsequent
underwritten offering, provided that all Holders, Other Shareholders and
officers and directors of the Company enter into similar agreements.
Such agreement shall be in writing in a form satisfactory to the
Company and such underwriter. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions
with respect to the shares (or securities) subject to the foregoing restriction
until the end of said period.
SECTION 8
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 8.l. ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS. The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor or assign of any
party hereto.
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SECTION 8.2. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. Unless sooner terminated in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the rights and obligations of
each Shareholder under this Agreement shall terminate as to such Shareholder
when the Group of which it is a member has transferred all Equity Securities
owned by such Group in accordance with this Agreement.
SECTION 8.3. ENFORCEMENT. The parties hereto agree that the remedy at
law for any breach of this Agreement is inadequate and that should any dispute
arise concerning any matter hereunder, this Agreement shall be enforceable in a
court of equity by an injunction or a decree of specific performance. Such
remedies shall, however, be cumulative and not exclusive, and shall be in
addition to any other remedies that the parties hereto may have.
SECTION 8.4. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. If any one or more provisions
of this Agreement shall be declared invalid or unenforceable, the same shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.5. AMENDMENTS. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may
be amended, waived, discharged, or terminated, except by written instrument
signed by the Company and Preferred Shareholders holding greater than two-thirds
of the voting Equity Securities held by the Preferred Shareholders; provided,
however, that (i) the provisions of Section 2 may not be amended without the
consent of SI, (ii) the provisions of Section 3, may not be amended without the
consent of Common Shareholders holding greater than fifty percent (50%) of the
voting Equity Securities held by the Common Shareholders; (iii) the periods set
forth in Section 6 may not be extended without the consent of each and every
Shareholder; (iv) this Section may not be amended without the consent of each
and every Shareholder and the Company; (v) the obligations of any Shareholder
may not be increased without the consent of such Shareholder and (vi) additional
Preferred Shareholders may be added to Schedule I from time to time if such
Preferred Shareholders agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this
Agreement and are approved by SI. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the execution
of a joinder or similar agreement by which a transferee of a Shareholder agrees
to be bound by and become a party to this Agreement in the manner contemplated
by this Agreement shall not be deemed an amendment.
SECTION 8.6. NOTICES.
(a) All notices and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and (unless otherwise expressly provided on
Schedule I or Schedule II attached hereto) shall be mailed by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, or delivered either by hand or by overnight
courier or messenger, or sent via telex, telecopier, computer mail or other
electronic means, addressed (i) if to a Shareholder, as indicated on Schedule I
or Schedule II, or at such other address as such Shareholder shall have
furnished in writing to the party initiating the notice or communication, or
(ii) if to the Company, to Five Clock Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, or at such other address as the Company shall have
furnished in writing to the party initiating the notice or communication.
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(b) Any notice or other communications so addressed and
mailed, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail (in each case, with
return receipt requested) shall be deemed to be delivered and given when so
mailed. Any notice so addressed and otherwise delivered shall be deemed to be
given when actually received by the addressee.
SECTION 8.7. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of
the State of Connecticut.
SECTION 8.8. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. All prior understandings and agreements
between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby
are merged in this Agreement, and this Agreement reflects all the understandings
with respect to such transactions. Nothing herein contained shall be construed
to obligate the Shareholders to make any additional investment in the Company or
to constitute the Shareholders as partners.
SECTION 8.9. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall constitute a
complete and original instrument but all of which together shall constitute one
and the same agreement, and it shall not be necessary when making proof of this
Agreement or any counterpart thereof to account for any other counterpart.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Agreement to be
signed by its duly authorized officer or partner, as the case may be, as of the
date and year first above written.
XXXXXXXX.XXX, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
---------------------------------
Name:
Title: /s/ Executive VP and CFO
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx
SI VENTURE FUND II, L.P.
By: SI Venture Management II, L.L.C.
its General Partner
By: /s/ N. Xxxx Rin
---------------------------------
its Managing Member
By: SI VENTURE MANAGEMENT II, L.L.C.,
its General Partner
By: /s/ N. Xxxx Rin
---------------------------------
its Managing Member
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APEX INVESTMENT FUND IV, L.P.
By: Apex Management IV, L.L.C.,
its General Partner
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
APEX STRATEGIC PARTNERS IV, LLC
By: Apex Management IV, LLC, Manager
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Managing Member
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